Electrical connecter



Aug. 31 1926.

G. B.'THOMAS ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed March 11 1925 INVENTOI? .97 J0GEORGE E. THO/V166 Fig.5.

By/ M A TTOR/VEYS lit are open at one end to HEOTIO'UT.

n THOMAS, or en :anncrmc comm, or BR Aug. 31, 1926.

roar, comxncrroun'nssxenon To rm ear DJGEPORT, ccnrrncrrcur, Aconronn'rron or con- ELEGTFJICAL GONNEGTER.

Application filed arch 111, 1925. Serial .l'tc. left".

My invention relates to electrical connecters, and particularly tofeatures of the connecter related to its contacts. .,the objects of myinvention are (1) vide a contact which in itself is proved construction,and pair of such contacts in th their respective variously spaced Amongto proof im- (2) to so mount a e connecter body that. they may shifttransversely across chambers to accommodate jacks, while stillmaintaining parallelism in all positions.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. l is a broken plan view of 5113011-necter in which my in one form;

invention is embodied Figs. 2 and 3 are more or less diagrammaticpartial sections showing the contacts in opposite extreme limits ofmovement transversely of their chambers to accoodate jacks Fig. 4t is aconnector connector contacts;

Fig. 6 is a broken side modified contact construction;

or difl'erent spacings;

partial section through the elevation of a Fig. 7 is a broken plan viewthereof; and

Fig. 8 is a the contact.

perspective view of a detail of The connecter in the form showncomprises a pair ot complementary blocks and 13 of insulating material,recessed on their juxtaposed contact housing faces to form a pair ofchambers 17 and 18 spaced apart by the barrier rib 19. The chambersafiord guide channels 20 and 21 through which enter the jacks of anassociated switch mechanism a thumb lever 22 attachment shown). lln theform illustrated to 5 inclusive the connector 15 embodies lug (not 1%Figs. 1

the connection to one or both of the contacts located in the chambers 17and 18.

lln the channels 23 and 24 which lead to electrically connected.

18 are conducting Each contact comprises a link 27 pierced accommodate asecuring h the contact is I of the contact leaves,

(not shown) operated by and serving to control anchored and electricallyconnected to one i or other of the straps 25, 26. Each strap 26 issecured to the block 16 by a moldedin hollow rivet3() tapped to receivethe screw 29. A spacer 31 interposed between the link 27 and the rivet30 serves to locate the link 2? substantially in the d-plane oi thechamber 18. At its opposite end the link 27 is pierced at 32'toaccoodate a W rivet 33 by which the attaching ends 34: and

as well as the ends 36 and 37 of the associated spring forks are securedin swivelling relation to the ii 27. The leaves of each contact areidentical and are struck from sheet metal, preterably copper, or othergood conductor of electricity, which has little inherent strength orresiliency. The shank of each leatis longitudinally apertured at 38 toincrease its flexibility and the side rails 39 and 4th) so formed areofi set at the jack-receiving end of the contact to form a-flared lipllo Intermediate the rails 39 and that the lip of each leaf, theconnecting integral web 42 w is bowed outward to form, with itsassociated leaf, a longitudinal cylindrical chan nel for the accoodationof cylindrical jack pins. Thus each contact is adapted to receive jacksof either the pin type which he enter the longitudinal channel 43, or ofthe blade ty e which is engaged between the op posed side rails 39 and41-0 of the contact leaves To reinforce the leaves mechanically and tocause them to grip an inserted jack of whatever type, each eontactcomprises'a pair of forks at and 45 of spring steel, the legs ct whichstraddle the longitudinally bowed areas 42-43 of the leaves and bearupon to the respective side rails 39 and all adjacent the lip of" thecontact.

The leaves and spring forks are mly united to form an into or by therivet 33 which passes throu h t e registering apertures l6 inthe attacing ends 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the several contact arts, as well asthrough the hole 32 in, t e link 27. For the better securing of thecontact leaves and sprin forlm, the apertures 46 may be rectanglfiar andthe rivet 33 ly shaped, the hole 32 in the l a 27 being of clent I bodyof the connector diametento accommodate the square shank of the rivet.

The chambers 17 and 18 inthe insulating cated in Fi 2 to accommodatethem-- selves to jac s of wide spacing, or alternatively to move towardeach other to accommodate themselves to jacks of less spacin As thecontacts move transversely in eit er direction, the maintain theirparallelism by reason 0 the swiveling connection at the rivet 33 withthe link 27. It-will be realized that precise parallelism is not necessaand that in case one of the jacks is out 0 parallel with its companion,either of the contacts may assume an angular relation with respect tothe other to accommodate itself to this deformed condition of the jack.1

In Fi s. 6 and-7 I have illustrated a contact which does not embody alink 27.a construction which may be used to advantage in a connectorhavin floating contacts to which the wires are irectly connected. Inthis form the ends 47 of the contact leaves are extended sufliciently toafford appropriate binding terminal plates adapted to. re-

- ceive the binding screw 48 which passes through registering holestherein, and takes into a clamping washer, or the like, 49. The rivet 50is shouldered at 51 to form a s acer, t rough registering holes, notonly in the leaves but also in the sprin steel forks 53, and areoffsetto rigidl unite the parts together. The shape 0 the contact leaves and srin forks is in every material respect identical with that abovedescribed.

In both types of construction, the contact has the merit of presenting agood conductor of electricity to the cooperating jack, while a springgrip upon the latter is secured by the spring forks which carrysubstantially no current and are consequently not subject todeterioration by heat incident to internal resistance. The temper of thesprings is therefore retained for a much longer period than is the casewhere the spring is called upon to carry current.

i Moreover the metal of the spring forks ma of a nature capable ofreceiving a muc higher temper. T ressure to the'contact leaves ad acentthe e spring forks apply their ips of the latter-a oint at which theeffort is exerted most e ectively, and secondly the point at which it ismost essential that pressure be applied, since the engagement 9f thecontacts with the jacks occurs solely in this region in the case ofcylindrical 'acks, and principally in the case of jack blades. Moreovert is desirable that pressure be exerted ad acent the contact. lips sinceit is while the ends 52 of the rivetpass at this point that the circuitis broken when the plug jacks-are withdrawn, and it 15 of advantage tomaintain the electrical connection between the connector contacts andthe plug jacks as complete as possible until the jacks are fullywithdrawn in order to prevent loose engagement between the parts andconsequent heating or arcing during this operation.

It will be realized that various modifications in details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromwhat I claim as my invention.

claim- 1. In an electrical connecter, a contact comprising opposedcontact leaves, plate s rings independent thereof and extendingongitudinally of the contact leaves and constantly urging the lattertoward each other to grip an inserted jack, and means rigidly unitinsaid contact leaves and plate springs at a oint remote from thejack-receiving end of t ie contact.

2. In an electrical connecter, a contact comprisin opposed contactleaves, each longitudina 1y grooved to afford side rails and anintermediate channel, longitudinally extending plate spring forksstraddling the channels of the respective contact leaves and constantlyurging the latter toward each other to gripan inserted jack, and meansrigidly uniting said contact leaves and plate springs at a point remotefrom the ackreceiving end of the contact.

3. In an electrical connecter, a contact comprising opposed contactleaves, each longitudinall grooved to afford side rails and an intermeiate channel, longitudinally extendin plate spring forks straddling thechanne s of the respective contact leaves and bearing against theirrespective side rails adjacent the jack-receiving ends of said contactleaves, together with means rigidly uniting said contact leaves andplate springs at a oint remote from the jack-receiving end 0 thecontact.

4. In an electrical connecter, an insulating body, a air of contactshoused within the body an shaped to afford substantially Saralleljack-receiving channels, a fixed conuctor housed within the body'and alink connecting said conductor to one of said contacts to permit lateralmovement of said contact toward and from its companion contact whilemaintaining parallelism between the jack-receiving channels of saidcontacts.

.5. In an electrical connector, a contact comprising 0 posed contactleaves plate springs exten ing longitudinally of the contact leaves andconstantly urging the latter toward each'other to grip an inserted jack,

and means rigidly uniting said contact leaves nation with a fixedconductor and a link pivotally connectedto the contact and to pivotedthereto and to its related fixed consaid fixed conductor. d'uctor, toestablish electrical connection 16 6. In an electrical conductor, aninsulattherewith while permitting the contacts to ing body recessed toaflr'ord a pair of contact maintain parallelism while floating in their5 chambers, a pair of fixed conductors for respective chambers.

leading current to one end of each of said In testimony whereof I havesigned my chambers, a transversely floating contact name to thisspecification. in each chamber, and for each contact a link GEORGE B.THOMAS.

